Support the Mother and Child Manifesto

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Actions you can take to help mothers and young children around the world.

Transforming Lives and Societies

Our focus is on a child’s “critical years” from conception to age 3-5. During this “window of opportunity” the brain develops faster than any other time in life. These critical years are the foundations that shape a child’s future physical and mental health, with life-long impact not only for themselves, but also for communities and societies.

The CEPPs Mother and Child Manifesto proposes 7 principles, providing a policy framework for unified multi-sector partnerships between government, private sector and civil society organizations at city, regional and national levels. They aim to help mothers, families and caregivers provide the nurturing care every child needs to develop their full potential.

The 7 Principles are based on real-life initiatives operating today in a number of countries. They are having a transformative effect, breaking the persistent inter-generational cycles of poverty, adversity and disadvantage seen in many areas of society today.

CEPPs is a multi-partner Global Initiative created in 2016 by a working group of organisations involved in the field of maternal perinatal health and early childhood development.

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Follow the Discussions…

Visit the CEPPs forums and speak with like-minded people about the latest issues relating to childhood and early parenting principles. Together, we can influence policy and make the world a better place.

Building Better Societies

During the early years of life, from conception to three, a child’s brain develops at an astounding pace. This is the crucial age when children form their first attachments and interpersonal relationships and develop their first concepts – optimistic or fearful – of the world in which they will live.

Science and psychology are helping us to understand how the love and nurture of caring adults is hard wired into the brains of children. Economic studies are showing us how the lack of nurtured development creates immense long-term costs to families, communities and governments.

Very Early Intervention is Critical!

“If we’re putting millions of dollars into Head Start which begins at three, four, or five years of age, and haven’t developed the appropriate brain to receive the education, it will be a waste of money. It is important to be sure that the brain has developed well in utero.

So when you start the formal education, you have the nerve cells and dendrites that can respond.”

Dr. Ann Diamond Weinstein, Ph.D. Professor of anatomy and neurosciences at the University of California, Berkeley

Empower

Realize

Help end preventable deaths of mothers and young children within a generation!

In theEvery Newborn Action Plancoordinated by the WHO and UNICEF, it is reported that for the first time, the world has the knowledge and resources to end preventable deaths of mothers and newborns within a generation. Governments around the world have signed up, but now rely on bottom-up support from professionals and organizations in health, social and early childhood care.

‘I encourage professionals and organisations to join a local CEPPs Network, and together let us make this a reality in every country.’

Valerie Unite, Executive Director and co-founder of CEPPs

Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals

CEPPs directly support SDGs 3, 4 & 5 which aim to improve health, education and the condition of women and girls.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to stimulate action over the next 15 years and beyond, in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.

CEPPs are directly linked to the achievement of a number of SDG targets, by providing a focus on early parenting and early childhood care and the physical, emotional and mental health of future generations.